Ricky Ponting Demanded Full Control Before Joining Punjab Kings

Ricky Ponting has made a huge impact as the head coach of Punjab Kings in IPL 2025. The former Australian captain took charge of a struggling team and turned them into serious title contenders. In an interview with PTI, Ponting revealed that he had one clear condition before joining Punjab Kings — full autonomy.

Ponting’s Clear Vision for Punjab Kings

Ponting coached Delhi Capitals for seven seasons, helping them reach the playoffs three years in a row and the final in 2021. However, a title win remained out of reach. When Punjab Kings approached him, Ponting made it clear that he would accept the role only if he had complete freedom to build the squad and coaching setup.

“I made it pretty clear that when I accepted the head coach’s job, I wanted full autonomy over how we build the team, including the auction strategy and coaching staff,” said Ponting.

He added that Punjab’s scouts played a major role in identifying the right talent, especially among uncapped players. The franchise retained only Prabhsimran Singh and Shashank Singh, showing full faith in Ponting’s vision of “playing differently.”

Punjab Kings Shine Despite Challenges

Punjab Kings had to face multiple setbacks in IPL 2025. Star players Glenn Maxwell and Lockie Ferguson were ruled out early due to injuries. Additionally, the tournament faced a one-week suspension due to military tensions between India and Pakistan.

Despite these hurdles, Punjab Kings finished at the top of the league table with 19 points. Ponting praised the team’s depth and the planning behind the scenes.

“We got the players we wanted, and it’s shown in the results. Even without Maxwell and Ferguson, we hardly skipped a beat,” he said.

A New Era for Punjab Kings

With Ponting at the helm, Punjab Kings have ended their long wait to reach the playoffs. They are now eyeing their first-ever IPL title, and the belief within the squad is stronger than ever.

As Punjab prepare to face Royal Challengers Bangalore in Qualifier 1, Ponting’s leadership and fearless approach could be the game-changer the franchise has always needed.

Stay updated with all the cricketing action, follow Cricadium on WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, Telegram, and Instagram